| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
WCU
Western Carolina
|
3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
CIN
Cincinnati
|
7 | 21 | 21 | 13 | 62 |
| Team | ATS (Margin) | O/U (Margin) |
|---|---|---|
|
WCU
Western Carolina
|
+36.5 | 61.5o (10.5) |
|
CIN
Cincinnati
|
-36.5 (15.5) | 61.5u |
| 1st Quarter | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:57 | |
FG
B. McCollum
33 yard field goal
|
3 - 0 |
| 3:34 | |
3 - 7 | |
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| 12:35 | |
3 - 14 | |
| 6:23 | |
TD
L. Thomas
1 yard run
(
B. McCollum
kick)
|
10 - 14 |
| 3:00 | |
10 - 21 | |
| 0:38 | |
10 - 28 | |
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| 9:10 | |
10 - 35 | |
| 5:03 | |
10 - 42 | |
| 2:02 | |
10 - 49 | |
| 4th Quarter | |||
| 11:51 | |
TD
L. O'Brien
11 yard run
(
failed kick)
|
10 - 55 |
| 0:43 | |
10 - 62 | |
| statistical category |
Western Carolina
|
Cincinnati
|
|---|---|---|
| First downs | 13 | 32 |
| Rushes-Yards | 20-74 | 49-418 |
| Passing Yards | 167 | 272 |
| Sacked-Yards Lost | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| Return Yardage | 51 | 64 |
| Passing | 24-37-0 | 28-31-2 |
| Punts-Average | 6-44.3 | 1-53.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 2-0 | 0-0 |
| Penalties-Yards | 5-45 | 11-105 |
| Field Goals | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| Time of Possession | 27:23 | 32:37 |
| Passing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | ||||||||||||||
| L. Thomas | 23/32 | 165 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| I. Lee | 1/3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| P. Harding | 0/2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Rushing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | ||||||||||||||
| M. Cochran | 3 | 25 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Perry | 7 | 24 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| L. Thomas | 5 | 18 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Balloon | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Dobie | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||
| D. Davis Jr. | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| A. Benjamin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | |||||||||||||
| J. Young | 6 | 5 | 49 | 0 | 19 | |||||||||||||
| J. Boyd | 7 | 6 | 32 | 0 | 9 | |||||||||||||
| S. Carlos | 4 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 25 | |||||||||||||
| A. Colombo | 4 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 13 | |||||||||||||
| K. Sterling | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| J. Perry | 4 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 9 | |||||||||||||
| D. Davis Jr. | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 7 | |||||||||||||
| B. Burns | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | |||||||||||||
| K. Woodburn | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| A. Cunningham | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | TD | |||||||||||||||
| No Interception Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sacks | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | ||||||||||||||||
| No Sack Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TK | AST | ||||||||||||||||
| N. Simpson-Nealy | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| A. Reese | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| A. Jackson Jr. | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| K. Moore Jr. | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| R. McKinnis | 3 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| N. Ashenafi | 2 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Jones | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Collins | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. Turner-Allen | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| D. Brown | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Douglas | 2 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. Young Jr. | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Barger | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Cornelius | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Joselin | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Anderson | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| M. Taylor | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| D. Harris | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Diamond | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Poyser | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Mack | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Waddell V | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Meeks | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Martin-Durham | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| M. Patierno | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. Kerns | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| B. Joseph II | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Q. Grant III | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. Robbins | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | LOST | ||||||||||||||||
| K. Sterling | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| A. Benjamin | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| Punting | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| M. Fitzgerald | 6 | 266 | 52 | |||||||||||||||
| Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| No Punt Return Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Kick Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| J. Dobie | 2 | 25 | 16 | |||||||||||||||
| R. Hollis | 1 | 26 | 26 | |||||||||||||||
| Passing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | C/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | ||||||||||||||
| J. French IV | 21/24 | 245 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| L. O'Brien | 5/5 | 18 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| S. Jones | 2/2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| Rushing | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | ||||||||||||||
| G. Payne | 12 | 102 | 2 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
| Z. Perry | 5 | 76 | 1 | 40 | ||||||||||||||
| C. Tabb | 5 | 72 | 1 | 36 | ||||||||||||||
| S. Jones | 8 | 52 | 1 | 13 | ||||||||||||||
| J. French IV | 7 | 52 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| Z. Johnson | 5 | 26 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||
| L. O'Brien | 4 | 23 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Lewis | 2 | 11 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||
| J. Thompson | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||
| Receiving | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | |||||||||||||
| M. Henry | 3 | 3 | 87 | 0 | 56 | |||||||||||||
| J. Gibson | 6 | 5 | 79 | 1 | 50 | |||||||||||||
| I. Johnson | 6 | 5 | 20 | 0 | 9 | |||||||||||||
| C. Wolford | 5 | 4 | 18 | 0 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| G. Payne | 2 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 10 | |||||||||||||
| G. Grover | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | |||||||||||||
| Z. Johnson | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | |||||||||||||
| D. Zahursky | 1 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | |||||||||||||
| G. Kontosis | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |||||||||||||
| E. Jones | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| K. Davis | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| L. Fenner | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |||||||||||||
| L. Waters | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Interceptions | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | TD | |||||||||||||||
| M. Saboor | 1 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| Sacks | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | ||||||||||||||||
| M. Parker | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Tackles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | TK | AST | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Thompson | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| D. Wilson | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Finley | 3 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| K. Worthy | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| S. Coleman | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| A. Peek Jr. | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| T. Johnson | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| P. Bauer | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| K. Meier | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| D. Hutchinson | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| M. Parker | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Rulo | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| G. Johnson | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||
| F. Maciorowski | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Beeler | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| K. Horn | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. Hough | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| M. Cannon | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| M. Saboor | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. Otutu | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| J. White-McClain | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| C. Roetherford | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fumbles | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | LOST | ||||||||||||||||
| No Fumble Data | ||||||||||||||||||
| Punting | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| M. Fletcher | 1 | 53 | 53 | |||||||||||||||
| Punt Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| C. Wolford | 3 | 22 | 12 | |||||||||||||||
| Kick Returns | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | NO | YDS | LG | |||||||||||||||
| Z. Perry | 2 | 42 | 24 | |||||||||||||||
Location Nippert Stadium
Temperature 78° Temperature
Attendance 34,827 attendance
| Team | Record | ATS | O/U | Away | Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
WCU
|
0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
|
CIN
|
1-0-0 | 1-0-0 | 0-1-0 | 0-0-0 | 1-0-0 |
WCU RecordLast 10
| Date | vs | Result | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 06, '26 |
@
CAMP
|
L 19 - 28 | L -3.5 | u68.5 |
| Aug 29, '26 |
EKY
|
W 45 - 21 | W -3.5 | o54.5 |
| Nov 22, '25 |
@
VMI
|
W 48 - 6 | -- | -- |
| Nov 15, '25 |
ETSU
|
L 35 - 52 | -- | -- |
| Nov 08, '25 |
MER
|
L 47 - 49 | -- | -- |
| Nov 01, '25 |
@
CHAT
|
W 35 - 28 | -- | -- |
| Oct 18, '25 |
@
CIT
|
W 45 - 38 | -- | -- |
| Oct 11, '25 |
FUR
|
W 52 - 7 | -- | -- |
| Oct 04, '25 |
@
WOF
|
W 23 - 21 | -- | -- |
| Sep 27, '25 |
@
CAMP
|
W 42 - 35 | -- | -- |
WCU Next 3 GamesJC French IV looks to follow up his successful debut as Cincinnati's quarterback while FCS opponent Western Carolina attempts to rebound from a nine-point loss when the teams meet Saturday night in Cincinnati.
French, a transfer from Georgia Southern, ran for three touchdowns and threw for another in his first game for the Bearcats (1-0) in a 34-15 win over Boston College last Saturday. He completed 10 of 14 passes for 77 yards.
"I thought JC played great," coach Scott Satterfield said. "He made great decisions in the run game, very efficient at throwing the football. There were some times we were trying to take (a) couple shots and they got the coverage back there, and he's throwing it underneath, which is awesome to see."
Another newcomer, Cincinnati native Gi'Bran Payne, led a powerful rushing attack that totaled 254 yards. Payne, a transfer from Notre Dame, ran for 108 yards on 14 carries.
"He was behind two first-rounders (in the NFL draft) there at Notre Dame," Satterfield said. "He came in here, and man, to his credit, he's just worked his butt off."
Cincinnati's physical identity already is locked in, with the offensive line earning Big 12 Offensive Line of the Week honors.
Meanwhile, coach Kerwin Bell and his Catamounts (1-1) passed for 326 yards but were held to 1 yard rushing in a 28-19 setback against Campbell last Sunday.
Bell relies heavily on an explosive, spread passing philosophy. Western Carolina quarterback Lex Thomas, a transfer from North Carolina State, completed 25 of 44 passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the loss.
"On the front line, offensive line and our quarterback situation is young right now," Bell said of Thomas, who had just 15 pass attempts in his first two years for the Wolfpack. "So it's a work in progress, but you do want to be a team that's to the point where they can go be competitive. Especially when we get to the (Southern) Conference."
Western Carolina will open conference play on Sept. 26 at East Tennessee State.
--Field Level Media
Western Carolina's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No injuries to report. | ||||
Cincinnati's Injuries| Player | POS | Status | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Witherspoon | TE | Questionable - Undisclosed( Oct 17, '26) | Oct 17, '26 | |
| Witherspoon is dealing with an undisclosed injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be active against Texas Tech on Saturday. | ||||
| G. Payne | RB | Questionable - Undisclosed( Oct 17, '26) | Oct 17, '26 | |
| Cincinnati left the game in between due to an undisclosed injury, and it is unclear whether he will play against Texas Tech on Saturday. | ||||
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L.Thomas | Sep 6, 2026 | CAMP 28 - WCU 19 | 326 | 44 | 25 | 56.8 | 7.4 | 2/0 | 0.0 |
| L.Thomas | Aug 29, 2026 | WCU 45 - EKY 21 | 320 | 35 | 27 | 77.1 | 9.1 | 3/0 | 0.0 |
| T.Dickens | Nov 22, 2025 | VMI 6 - WCU 48 | 330 | 40 | 28 | 70.0 | 8.3 | 3/0 | 0.0 |
| I.Lee | Nov 22, 2025 | VMI 6 - WCU 48 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 25.0 | 4.0 | 0/0 | 0.0 |
| T.Dickens | Nov 15, 2025 | WCU 35 - ETSU 52 | 426 | 48 | 33 | 68.8 | 8.9 | 2/0 | 0.0 |
| T.Dickens | Nov 8, 2025 | WCU 47 - MER 49 | 551 | 49 | 33 | 67.3 | 11.2 | 7/1 | 0.0 |
| Date | Score | YDS | Att | Comp | Comp % | Y/A | TD/Int | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.French IV | Sep 5, 2026 | CIN 34 - BC 15 | 77 | 14 | 10 | 71.4 | 5.5 | 1/0 | 141.2 |
| B.Lichtenberg | Jan 2, 2026 | CIN 13 - NAVY 35 | 78 | 15 | 10 | 66.7 | 5.2 | 1/1 | 119.0 |
| S.Jones | Jan 2, 2026 | CIN 13 - NAVY 35 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 40.0 | 3.8 | 0/0 | 71.9 |
| B.Sorsby | Nov 22, 2025 | CIN 14 - BYU 26 | 300 | 38 | 25 | 65.8 | 7.9 | 2/1 | 144.2 |
| B.Sorsby | Nov 15, 2025 | CIN 24 - ARIZ 30 | 154 | 28 | 15 | 53.6 | 5.5 | 1/2 | 97.3 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards | (--) | 388.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Play | (--) | 5.3 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Rush Yds | (--) | 165.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Rush Att | (--) | 38.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Rush | (--) | 4.3 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Pass Yds | (--) | 223.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Pass Att | (--) | 35.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Comp | (--) | 18.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Comp% | (--) | 51.4 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Comp | (--) | 12.4 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Att | (--) | 6.4 |
| .0 | (--) | QB rating | (--) | 108.7 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 365.0 |
| 5.7 |
| 153.3 |
| 35.6 |
| 4.3 |
| 212.5 |
| 29.1 |
| 18.1 |
| 62.1 |
| 11.7 |
| 7.3 |
| - |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Sacks | (--) | 4.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Sack Yds | (--) | 24.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Intercepts | (--) | 1.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Fumbles | (--) | 1.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Penalties | (--) | 7.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Penalty Yds | (--) | 37.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 1.9 |
| 11.9 |
| 0.7 |
| 0.6 |
| 6.4 |
| 53.9 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Score | (--) | 15.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 1st Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 2nd Q | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 3rd Q | (--) | 8.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | 4th Q | (--) | 7.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 27.1 |
| 6.2 |
| 8.7 |
| 5.9 |
| 6.1 |
| OFFENSE |
Off. Rank | Stat | Def. Rank | DEFENSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/Punt Ret | (--) | 2.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | Yards/KO Ret | (--) | 9.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG Att | (--) | 1.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG Made | (--) | 0.0 |
| 0.0 | (--) | FG% | (--) | 0.0 |
| League Avg. |
|---|
| 11.3 |
| 20.7 |
| 13.1 |
| 10.0 |
| 76.1 |
